Mobile telephone case facilitating wireless charging

ABSTRACT

A mobile telephone case that includes a housing structured to receive a mobile telephone, the housing includes a perimeter frame disposed about a perimeter of the mobile telephone to substantially cover and protect the mobile telephone, an at least partially open front face to provide access to a display screen of the mobile telephone, and a protective rear panel that is at least partially movable between an open orientation and a closed orientation when the housing is operatively disposed on the mobile telephone. The protective rear panel substantially covers and protects a rear surface of the mobile telephone when in the closed orientation, with at least a portion thereof being at least partially separable from the perimeter frame to define the open orientation that provides wireless charging access to the rear surface of the mobile telephone with the housing still disposed on the mobile telephone.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/467,687, filed on Sep. 7, 2021, which is set to mature intoU.S. Pat. No. 11,588,928 on Feb. 21, 2023, which is a Continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/009,391, filed on Sep. 1, 2020,which has issued on Sep. 7, 2021 as U.S. Pat. No. 11,115,513, which is aContinuation-In-Part patent application of previously filed U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/272,379, filed on Feb. 11, 2019, which hasissued on Sep. 1, 2020 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,763,688, which claimspriority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/628,605 filed on Feb. 9, 2018, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein, by reference, in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a protective case or housing for amobile phone which is structured to facilitate the wireless charging ofthe mobile phone, while the mobile phone is still disposed within theprotective case. Accordingly, the inconvenience of detachment or removalof the protective case from the mobile phone is eliminated, when thewireless charging thereof is required or desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The use of mobile telephones in modern-day society has becomeubiquitous. Similarly, different casings, housings, etc. are frequentlyutilized to at least partially enclose the mobile phone for purposes ofprotection. Such protection is often deemed necessary due in part to theexpense of many mobile phones and the fact that such mobile phones arecarried on or by an individual on a frequent, if not almost constantbasis.

As is also well known, the periodic recharging of the batteries ofmobile phones is a requirement in order to maintain efficient theoperative and communicative capabilities of the phone. The rechargingprocedure for the mobile phone commonly involves the interconnection ofthe mobile phone to a power source utilizing a charging cable or thelike. As such, the charging cable may be connected at one end directlyto the mobile phone, such as by the utilization of a USB connector. Theopposite end of the charging cable is connected to a conventional ACpower outlet or alternatively to a computer, processor, etc.

However, more recently mobile phones have been developed which havewireless charging capabilities. Accordingly, recharging the batteries ofthe mobile phone is accomplished by placing the mobile phone in directengagement or contact with a wireless recharging unit. Further by way ofexample, a mobile phone having wireless charging capabilities may beplaced directly on a flat or other appropriately configured platform orsurface. In such a position, the rear surface or other appropriateportion of the mobile phone is disposed within an appropriate and/orpredetermined induction range of the transmitting coil of the wirelessrecharging unit. However, when the mobile phone is disposed within aconventional protective case or housing the rear surface thereof istypically covered or enclosed. Accordingly, many conventional or knownprotective cases for mobile phones require a removal of the case orhousing from the mobile phone in order to adequately expose the rearsurface and associated recharging coil of the mobile phone to thetransmitting coil of the wireless recharging unit.

Therefore, there is a need in the related art of mobile phones,especially of the type having wireless recharging capabilities, for amobile telephone case which overcomes the disadvantages and problemsassociated with adequate protection of the mobile phone, whileconcurrently facilitating the wireless recharging thereof. In morespecific terms, there is a need for a protective case, housing, etc. fora mobile phone which does not require its removal or detachment, whilethe mobile phone is being wirelessly recharged. Further, such apreferred and proposed protective case or housing should be structuredand configured to provide meaningful protection of the mobile phone,while concurrently allowing the wireless recharging thereof. Further,the structure, configuration, dimension, etc. of the protective caseshould be adaptable and/or capable of being structurally modified foruse with different mobile phones, while facilitating their wirelessrecharging by any one of a plurality of different, but substantiallyconventional, wireless recharging units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a mobile phone with a protective case of thepresent invention disposed thereon.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 , including an accesssegment disposed in a closed orientation.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the accesssegment disposed in an open orientation.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of yet another embodiment of the mobile telephonecase of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of yet another preferred embodiment of the mobiletelephone case of the present invention incorporating a protective rearpanel movable into an open orientation.

FIG. 6 is yet another preferred embodiment of the mobile telephone caseof the present invention incorporating an access segment associated withthe protective rear panel.

FIG. 7 is a side view in schematic form of a mobile phone having atleast one embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the presentinvention, disposed thereon concurrently to being wirelessly rechargedby a conventional recharging unit.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of one longitudinal side of a preferredembodiment of the mobile telephone case of the present invention mountedon a mobile phone.

FIG. 9 is a side view in schematic form of a mobile phone having theembodiment of the mobile telephone case, as represented in FIG. 6disposed thereon and concurrently being wirelessly recharged by aconventional recharging unit.

FIG. 10 is a side view in schematic form of a mobile phone having oneadditional embodiment of the mobile telephone case of the presentinvention disposed thereon and concurrently being wirelessly rechargedby a conventional wireless recharging unit.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As represented in the accompanying Figures, the present invention isdirected to a protective mobile telephone case generally indicated as 10mounted on a mobile phone, generally indicated as 100. It is furtheremphasized herein that while the mobile telephone case 10 is capable ofbeing used with a variety of different mobile telephones, the mobiletelephone 100 is structured to include wireless recharging capabilities.Therefore, the various operative and structural features of the mobiletelephone case 10 facilitate a wireless recharging thereof, asschematically represented in at least FIGS. 7-10 , concurrently to themobile telephone case 10 being maintained in its protective orientationon the mobile telephone 100.

Accordingly, the mobile telephone case 10 comprises a housing generallyindicated as 12 including a perimeter frame 14 and a rear protectivepanel 16. The perimeter frame 14 is disposed in surrounding, enclosingrelation to the exterior periphery/perimeter of the mobile phone 100 ona substantially continuous basis, as represented throughout the Figures.Also, the perimeter frame 14 includes an open front face or surface 15.As a result of this open configuration, and with primary reference toFIG. 1 , the perimeter frame 14 and the open front face 15 isdimensioned and configured to provide both physical and visual access tothe front face or surface of the mobile phone 100 specificallyincluding, but not limited to, the display screen 102. As such, thedisplay screen 102 may be viewed and the various operative features ofthe mobile phone 100 may be utilized and/or actuated by touching, voiceactuation, etc. as is commonly practiced.

In cooperation therewith, the rear protective panel 16 is disposed inoverlying, covering relation to the rear surface or face 104 of themobile phone 100, as represented in at least FIGS. 5 and 6 . As alsorepresented throughout the Figures, at least a portion of the protectiverear panel 16 may be disposed between an open orientation, asrepresented in at least FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 and a closed orientation, asrepresented in at least FIGS. 2 and 4 . Further, when in the closedorientation, the protective rear panel 16 is disposed in substantiallycovering and protecting relation to the rear surface 104 of the mobilephone 100.

In contrast to the closed orientation, the open orientation of theprotective rear panel 16 results in at least a portion of the rear faceor surface 104 of the mobile phone 100 being accessible, at least forpurposes of wireless recharging. As indicated above, the mobile phone100 is of the type which includes wireless recharging capabilities.Therefore, a wireless recharging unit and or recharging coil 106,associated with the mobile phone 100, is schematically represented in atleast FIGS. 5 and 6 . In typical fashion, the wireless recharging coil106 associated with the mobile phone 100 is accessible for wirelessrecharging by placing the rear surface 104 within a predetermined orappropriate induction range relative to the wireless transmittercircuitry 110 of the wireless recharging transmitter unit 112, asschematically represented in at least FIG. 7 . As indicated, thewireless recharging unit 112 may include a variety of conventionaland/or commercially available recharging units and may be powered by aplug 114 connectable to a conventional electrical power supply/output.

Additional features of one or more preferred embodiments of the mobiletelephone case 10 of the present invention include the rear protectivepanel 16 having an access segment generally indicated as 20, wherein theaccess segment 20 is capable of being selectively moved or disposedbetween the closed orientation of FIG. 2 and the open orientation ofFIG. 3 . Moreover, the disposition of the access segment 20 between theopen and closed orientations is determinative of at least a portion ofthe rear protective panel 16 being at least partially moved or disposedbetween the closed and open orientations, as set forth above.

Yet additional structural features of the mobile telephone case 10,including the housing 12 is the inclusion of a storage compartmentgenerally indicated as 22 and/or 22′. The storage compartment 22/22′ isdisposed, dimensioned and configured to efficiently store one or moreobjects such as, but not limited to, one or more credit cards 23, money,in the form of paper bills or coin and/or a variety of otherappropriately configured and dimensioned objects. As represented in thedifferent structural features of the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 , thestorage compartment 22 may be located on or at least partially withinthe rear protective panel 16. Further, the storage compartment 22 may bereadily accessible by disposing the access segment 20 in the openorientation, as represented in FIG. 3 . In contrast, the storagecompartment 22′ may be mounted on the access segment 20 and/or on therear protective panel 16, but be readily accessible for insertion orremoval of the contents 23, while the access segment 20 and or rearprotective panel 16 remains in the closed orientation, as in FIG. 4 .

With primary reference to FIG. 5 one embodiment of the mobile telephonehousing 10 includes the entire rear protective panel 16 being movableinto an open orientation, from a closed orientation, thereby renderingsubstantially the entire rear surface or face 104 of the mobile phone100 visually and physically accessible. As such, the recharging sectionof the mobile telephone 100 will be clearly exposed and accessible forwireless charging, as represented schematically in FIG. 7 . In at leastone embodiment, the rear protective panel 16 is pivotally connected by ahinge or appropriate connecting structure 28. Therefore, the rearprotective panel 16 is selectively movable, at least partially separableand otherwise disposable between the open and closed orientations bymovement of the rear protective panel 16 relative to the remainder ofthe perimeter frame 14, by virtue of the hinge or other appropriateconnecting structure 28.

Further, the hinge or movable connecting structure 28 may be configuredto facilitate disposition or movable separation of the rear protectivepanel 16 into the open orientation, as represented in FIG. 5 . Moreover,the hinge or connecting structure 28 may be further structured to allowand/or facilitate disposition of the rear protective panel 16 incomplete overlapping relation to the front or open face 15 of theperimeter frame 14 as represented in FIG. 10 . Such a “wraparound”orientation of the protective panel 16 in the open orientation, alsoprovides a clear visual and physical access to the entirety of the rearsurface 104 of the mobile phone 100.

With primary reference to FIG. 6 , the embodiment of the mobiletelephone case 10 is structured to include the access segment 20. Asdescribed with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 , the accesssegment 20 is selectively movable between an open orientation and aclosed orientation, which in turn defines the open and closedorientation of the rear protective panel 16. Therefore, when the accesssegment 20 is in the open orientation, as represented in FIG. 6 , therecharging section or transmitter coil 106 of the mobile telephone 100is physically exposed for disposition on or in direct engagement,whether by direct or by close proximate contact, with the wirelessrecharging unit 112. Of course, it is understood that the inclusion of athin protective layer over the back of the telephone in a manner thatstill allows it to achieve direct proximity and unimpeded chargingengagement with the wireless charger is considered an equivalent and mayalso be provided. In the recharging position, schematically representedin FIG. 9 , the transmitter coil or section 106 of the mobile phone 100is disposed within the inductive range of the circuitry 110 of thewireless recharging unit 112, as schematically represented in FIG. 7 .

Yet additional structural features which may be included in the variouspreferred embodiments of the mobile telephone case 10 is appropriateapertures or openings 30 for disposition in operative relation to thecamera lens, lighting facilities, etc. generally indicated as 40. Also,one or more closure structures may be mounted on the housing 12 and/orperimeter casing 14, as at 50. The latch structures 50 may be used tomaintain the access segment 20 and/or the rear protective panel 16 inthe closed orientation, as should be apparent. Further, the closurestructure 50 may be in the form of a frictional snap closure; a magneticcontact closure; a latch closure; etc. In each of these possiblestructural embodiments, the latch closure 50 is structured to removablymaintain the panel 16 and or the access segment 20 in the closedorientation and may be activated to release the rear protective panel 16and or access segment 20 by an appropriately structured exterioractuator.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intendedthat all matters in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile telephone case comprising: a housingstructured to receive a mobile telephone; said housing including aperimeter frame disposed about a perimeter of the mobile telephone andstructured to substantially cover and protect the mobile telephone; saidhousing further including an at least partially open front facestructured to provide access to a display screen of the mobiletelephone; said housing further comprising a protective rear panel, saidprotective rear panel including at least a storage compartment; at leasta portion of said storage compartment being movable between an openorientation and a closed orientation, concurrent to said housing beingoperatively disposed on the mobile telephone; said storage compartmentincluded with said protective rear panel structured to substantiallycover and protect a rear surface of the mobile telephone when in saidclosed orientation; and at least said portion of said storagecompartment that is movable into said open orientation being at leastpartially separable from a remainder of said rear panel to define saidopen orientation that provides directly proximate and unimpeded wirelesscharging access to the rear surface of the mobile telephone through saidremainder of said protective rear panel.
 2. The mobile telephone case asrecited in claim 1 wherein said storage compartment is at leastpartially integral with said remainder of said protective rear panel. 3.The mobile telephone case as recited in claim 1 wherein said storagecompartment is separable from said remainder of said protective rearpanel.